Container pressure device



May 25, 1965 w. E. SHRINER ETAL 3,184,897

CONTAINER PRESSURE DEVICE Filed Oct. 8', 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l Arrone/v0' May 25, 1965 w. E. s HRlNER ETAL vFiled Oct. 8, 1962 CONTAINER YRESSURE DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS HILL/AM SHQ/vc@ BY doSeP/-f C. ,19u/veo United States Patent O 3,1497 CUNTAlNER FRESSURE DEVCE William il. Shriner and Joseph il. Runen, Lancaster, hio,

assignors to Anchor Hocking @dass Sorporation, Lancaster, hio, a corporation of Delaware Filed (Bet. 8, i962, Ser. No. 22%,4d 1l Claims. (Cl. 53--331.5)

The present invention relates to the sealing art and more particularly to a device for handling containers as they pass through automatic container sealing machines or other container handling machines.

The recent increase in the use of screw-type closures for sealing containers has resulted in the need for improved high speed container sealing machines for applying such closures. One type of sealing machine whlch has been successfully used for applying such closures is a machine wherein the closure cap is pressed downwardly onto the container threads and where at least part o f the relative rotation between the cap and the containers 1s obtained by the rotation of the containers. In sealing machines of this type, the container rotation has been obtained by rolling the containers along a shoe or pad and the present invention provides an improved member or pad of this nature.- Pads for this use are described, for example, for use in the sealing machine of United States Patent No. 3,012,388 and in the sealing machine of United States Patent No. 3,073,090, both of which are owned by the assignee of the present invention. While particularly effective for pads of this type which roll containers, the invention is also applicable in other operations where container contacting pads are used in a container guiding or gripping combinations whether or not the containers roll along the pads.

Wherever a pad of this type is used, the container engaging surface of the pad is subjected to wear which has previously required periodic adjustment or replacement of the pad so that it continues to perform the desired operation. The pad mounting of the present invention has been found to both appreciably reduce pad wear and to compensate for pad wear consequently reducing the amount of adjustment and pad replacement on such machines. This makes machines using the pad mounting of the present invention more economical as well as more reliable. This is particularly valuable in high speed sealing machinery where the mounting of the present invention has appreciably reduced down time so that interruptions to packing operations have been appreciably lessened with a consequent reduction of packing costs and an improvement in packing line reliability and performance.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved sealing machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved container guide or turning pad Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved container turning pad mounting.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a means for lengthening container turning pad life and for reducing turning pad maintenance requirements.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and Various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a sealing 'ice machine having a container turning pad in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the turning pad in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the pad of FIG. 2.

As noted above, the turning pad. of the present invention is useful wherever a container guiding surface is required to apply force to moving containers.

It is particularly useful where the pad presents a friction surface to the containers and where the containers are rolled along this surface by the drag of the pad on the moving containers.

The preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in connection with a rotary sealing machine such as is illustrated in the drawings. It is clear that the pad may be used for a straight line sealing machine which rotates the containers or in other uses where moving containers are guided and held in -position under some degree of force by an elongated pad.

A rotary sealing machine 1 is illustrated in FIGURE 1 wherein the relative rotation between the cap 2 and the container 3 is provided by rotating the containers 3. Such a machine has been described in detail in United States Patent No. 3,073,090 and the present description will be limited to the portions of the machine necessary for a complete understanding of the operation of the turning pad of the present invention.

The sealing machine 1 has a circular table 4 which supports a moving arcuate conveyor 5. Containers 3 are fed onto the moving conveyor 5 and are held in spaced relationship thereon by a star wheel 6 which is rotated in synchronism with the moving conveyor 5. A series of sealing heads 7 rotate about the central shaft 8 of the sealing machine t in synchronism with the conveyor 5 so that a closure cap 2 is positioned above each container 3 on a chuck 9 within each sealing head 7.

When the moving container 3 and its associated sealing head '7 reach the position illustrated in FIG. 1, a cam 10 lowers each sealing head 7 so that the chuck 9 presses the cap Z downwardly against the container threads. Further forward movement of the conveyor 5 now carries each container between the container rotating pad l1 and the container rotating wheels 12 on the star wheel o. The pad 11 provides a drag on the side wall of each moving container 3 so that the pad and two wheels 12 cooperate causing the container 3 to roll along the pad 11 in such a direction as to cause the cap 2 to be tightly screwed onto the container threads. rlhe cap holding chuck preferably includes a clutch member to control the torque applied by this rolling action and the cam member 10 is appropriately shaped to preferably apply the cap with a light force during the initial threading operation and with increased force thereafter.

The preferred embodiment of the pad 11 in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 as used on a rotary sealing machine. The pad 11 itself comprises an arcuate shoe 14 with a container contacting band le' attached thereto. The contact band -15 is formed of frictional material capable of withstanding wear resulting from the passage of containers along its surface.

While various conventional brake band materials may be used as the contact band, superior performance has been experienced with a container contacting band 15 made of a strip of wool carpeting mounted on a pad of rubber d3. The wool strip is bonded to the rubber pad by pressure molding and Ivulcanization of the rubber. The shoe d4 -is supported in position on the sealing machine 1 by being attached to two piston rods 16 each having a bracket l?? adapted to receive the shoe 14 and mount it on suitable pins 11S. The piston rods 16 are slidably inlet 23 inthe rear of each cylinder. The air pressure -for each piston 22 is set to provide a predetermined force against each container to hold the container tightly in engagement with the contact band and to cause the-container to roll along the band without slipping and without an excessive force which might damage the containers.

The bearings 19 and air cylinders 2l are both attached to a suitable mounting plate 24 which adjustably mounts these elements adjacent to the container moving means in the desired position. -In the preferred embodiment illustrated, .a pair of rectangular keys 25 are provided -to align the mounting plate 24 on the machine table 4 and an adjusting bolt 26 threadably mounted in a fixed bracket 27 engages a flange 2.8 on the mounting plate 24 to permit a tine adjustment of the pad position. This adjustment bolt 26 is rotated in an appropriate direction to move the pad radially inwardly of the sealing machine to provide the desired contact between the container and contact band 1S of the pad 11. When the adjustment has been set, a pair of locking` screws 29 anchor the mounting plate 24 firmly on the sealing machine.

The preferred amount of force applied to the containers 3 bythe sealing pad il may be determined by experimental runs and forces of several hundred pounds have been found to be desirable in a typical sealing machine wherein several jars are being simultaneously rotated along the pad surface. This force may be obtained with air pressures in the range of 15 to 40 lbs. p.s.i. in air cylinders of convenient size. This pressure is set and maintained by supplying the air through an adjustable pressure regulator 36.' Kln the preferred embodiment, the output of the pressure regulator is -iirst coupled to .an air tank 3l which functions to minimize air pressure changes during piston movement by providing a greater over-all volume v `for the `air applied to the surfaces of pistons 22.

In order to provide an indication of air pressure failure or loss, a Warning indicator y32 is preferably connected to the air pressure regulator 3d output 34. The indicator 32 is positioned at a convenient location where its warn-` ing buzzer or light will alert the operator to an air pressure reduction. Alternatively, the Warning indicator 32 may have its contacts connected directly in the machine control system to stop machine operation in the event that the air pressure fails to meet the necessary amount. Such air pressure indicators are readily available as a commercial item.

When the air pressure has been set, an improved resilient mounting results for the pad :l1 wherein the pad lll forces remain substantially constant for long periods and through changes in the contact band 15 thickness due to Wear. The use of the air cylinders 21` permits the simultaneous adjustment and the continuous equalization of the pad mounting pressures at the opposite ends of the pad. The system also permits ea-sy surveillance of pad Contact forces since the force is controlled by the air pressure used and this may be observed by a simple reading of the gage 35 on the adjustable pressure regulator 3d.

Since the containers have substantially uniform diameters, the presence of the containers between the jar rotating wheels and the Contact band l of the pad l1 will cause a predetermined movement of each piston in its air cylinders. This movement will cause each cylinder to exert a predetermined force on the pad l1 through its piston rod 16 to provide the desired gripping actionof the pady 11 for container rotation. As described above, this force is directly proportional to the air pressure. The

slight movement of the pistons and the constant pressure pressure or force which inturu insures positive jar rotation and reduced requirements for pad adjustment and replacement. The use ofthe air-cushioned turning pad thus provides an improved sealing .action and an improved longer Wearing sealing shoe requiring minimum adjustment during use.

The pistons and cylinders have been described herein as used with air since air is the most convenient source of a suitable elastic fluid. Other. gases or mixtures might be used where readily lavailable at suflicient pressureor other elastic meanswhere they areotherwise suitable.

As various changes may be made inthe form, construction andarrangement of the parts herein Without departing from the spiritand scope ofthe invention and Without sacricing any of itsadvantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

l. A container sealing `machine comprising the combination of a container moving means, an elongated container engaging member adjacent thereto and substantially restricted against movementv in the direction of movement of the moving means, a motor for resiliently supporting said member permitting movement generally laterally of the direction of said moving means, ,saidmotor comprising a cylinder and cooperating piston,y and means to supply a compressible iiuid under pressure to said cylinder for pressing said container engaging. member through a range of` movement toward the containers to apply a i constant force to said containers.

2. The machine as claimed in claim 1 in which said fluid supplymeans comprises a pressure regulator and a pressure stabilizing tank in said iluid supply means intermediate said regulator and said cylinder.

3. The machine asclaimed in claim 1 which further comprises a pressure regulator in said uid supply means anda low pressure Warning indicator coupled to said cylinder.`

4. la a containersealing,machine having a container- `for engagement with containers of diiferent diameter and said member substantially restricted against movementrin the direction of movement of the moving means, the improvement which comprises' a support for said member permitting its movement generally llaterally .of the direction of containerl movement' comprising a plurality of cylinders and cooperating pistons interconnecting said member and a stationary portionl of said machine, and means for actuating said pistons to press said elongated member through a range of movement toward the containers to apply a constant force to said containers regardless of diameter.

5, A support for mounting on a sealing machine an elongated container engaging member adapted to frictionally engage moving containers of different diameter comprising a plurality of cylinders and cooperating pistons adapted lfor connection to a common source of elastic uid under pressure, said cylinders and pistons connecting said member with a stationary portion of the sealing Inachine and permitting rsaid member to movelaterally of the direction of container motionwhile substantially preventing movement of the member in the direction of container movement and means for connecting said cylinders to the source of uid to press said container engaging member through a range of movement toward the containers to yapply a constant force to said containers regardless of diameter.

6. ln a container sealing machine` having means for moving a series yof containers beneath closure applying means and having an elongated container turning member for frictionally engaging `the sidewalls of the moving containers the improvement which comprises a plurality of air cylinders and cooperating pistons `interconnecting the Iturning member and the sealing machine base and with the pistons aligned to provide for movement of said container turning member generally laterally of the direction of container movement, stop means determining the innermost position of the container turning member relative to the container moving means, means to couple a common source of compressible fluid to said cylinders for urging the container turning member towards its innermost position and for adjustably controlling the force applied to the containers by the container turning means, a p-ressure regulator in said coupling means, a pressure stabilizing tank in said coupling intermediate said regulators and said cylinders, and means in communication with said cylinders for indicating the dropping of the cylinder pressure below a predetermined amount.

7. In a container sealing machine having a driven means for moving a series of containers along a predetermined path beneath closure applying means and having an elongated container tuming member for frictionally engaging the sidewalls of the moving containers the improvement which comprises a plurality of air cylinders and cooperating pistons interconnecting the turning member and the sealing machine base and with the pistons aligned to provvide for movement of .said container turning member generally laterally of the direction of container movement, stop means determining the innermost position of the container turning member relative to the containers moving means, means to couple a common source of pressure regulated compressible iluid to said cylinders for urging the container turning member towards its innermost position and for adjustably controlling the force applied to the containers by the container turning means, and means in communication with said cylinders for detecting the dropping of the cylinder pressure below a predetermined amount and for stopping said driven container moving means.

8. A container sealing machine comprising the combination of means to move containers, a container engaging member positioned adjacent the path of containers on said moving means, a motor for resiliently and adjustably moving said member into engagement with containers of different diameter during the operation of the sealing machine, and means for actuating said motor to press said container engaging member through a range of movement toward the containers to apply a constant force -to said containers regardless of diameter.

9. The machine as claimed in claim 8 in which said motor comprises a plurality of air motors including a cylinder and an enclosed piston.

10. A container handling machine comprising means to move containers, a container engaging member, an air operated piston for supporting said member and for adjustably and resiliently positioning said member at said container moving means adjacent the path of the containers moving thereon for rolling engagement with said containers, and a fluid supply means for said piston cornprising a pressure regulator and a pressure stabilizing tank intermediate said piston and said regulator.

1v1. In a container sealing machine having a container moving means and an elongated container engagement member adjacent thereto and substantially restricted against movement in the direction of movement of the moving means, the improvement which comprises a support for said member permitting its movement laterally of the direction of container movement comprising a plurality of cylinders and cooperating pistons interconnecting said member and stationary portion of said machine, and means for coupling said cylinders to a common source of compressible iuid under pressure said coupling means including a pressure regulator and a pressure stabilizing tank intermediate said regulator and said cylinders.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,518,856 8/50 Bell 53-314 XR 2,630,959 `3/53 Brown 53-314 2,979,874 4/'61 Ringel et al. 53--317 lFRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner.

TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Examiner. 

1. A CONTAINER SEALING MACHING COMPRISING THE COMBINATION OF A CONTAINER MOVING MEANS, AN ELONGATED CONTAINER ENGAGING MEMBER ADJACENT THERETO AND SUBSTANTIALLY RESTRICTED AGAINST MOVEMENT IN THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF THE MOVING MEANS, A MOTOR FOR RESILIENTLY SUPPORTING SAID MEMBER PERMITTING MOVEMENT GENERALLY LATERALLY OF THE DIRECTION OF SAID MOVING MEANS, SAID MOTOR COMPRISING A CYLINDRE AND COOPERATING PISTON, AND MEANS TO SUPPLY A COMPRESSIBLE FLUID UNDER PRESSURE TO SAID CYLIN- 